You're reading an archived Connections puzzle from Aug 8, 2026 — the daily hints refresh every midnight.

Today's puzzle hints & answers →
Connections sportSports Connections Wordle Spelling Bee Browse all →
NYT Connections · #1154

NYT Connections Hints & Answers (#1154) — August 8, 2026

By ·

Earlier Aug 7 This puzzle Aug 8 Later Aug 9

“Try listening to how the shorter words sound when spoken before grouping anything else.CUTIE appeared in Connections #96 (Sep 15, 2023) as part of words that sound like two letters.”

NYT Connections hints for August 8, 2026

Three levels of help — a definition for every word, colour-coded group nudges, and a heads-up on the traps. Skip to all answers →

1

Word clues

A spoiler-free definition for every word in the grid. Tap the eye on any card to reveal which colour-group it belongs to.

1 BELTPairs with safety to mean a car restraint.
2 COUCHLooks like furniture but works as a verb for expressing.
3 CUTIELooks like an attractive person but shortens to QT.
4 EASYShortens to EZ when standing for simple.
5 EFFECTSLooks like results but shortens to FX.
6 EXPRESSTo put thoughts into words or convey clearly.
7 FRAMELooks like a border but works as a verb for wording.
8 GOGGLESPairs with safety for eye protection in labs.
9 HOT DOGAn exclamation that doubles as food and a show-off.
10 HURRAHA classic cheer with a slightly old-time ring.
11 I OWE YOUShortens to IOU and sounds like the letters.
12 PHRASETo word something in a certain way.
13 PINPairs with safety for a baby fastener.
14 RAZORPairs with safety for a shaving tool.
15 WHOOPEEA playful shout often paired with cushions in cartoons.
16 YAHOOA loud cry of joy that also names a search engine.
2

Group hints

Four colour-coded groups, easiest → hardest. Every button reveals the hint, the category name, or a single word — tap only what you need.

See Hint Cheers that sound like they belong in an old comic strip.
See Group QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENT
See WordHOT DOG
See WordHURRAH
See WordWHOOPEE
See WordYAHOO
See Hint The way a writer might word a thought on paper.
See Group CONVEY
See WordCOUCH
See WordEXPRESS
See WordFRAME
See WordPHRASE
See Hint Read them aloud and they match single letters.
See Group WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONES
See WordCUTIE
See WordEASY
See WordEFFECTS
See WordI OWE YOU
See Hint Items that complete a phrase about staying protected.
See Group SAFETY ___
See WordBELT
See WordGOGGLES
See WordPIN
See WordRAZOR
3

Words the puzzle wants you to mis-group

Read these before you guess — they're the words most likely to break a streak. Tap for the trap.

1 COUCH Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a sofa, but here the puzzle is using it as a verb meaning to express something.
2 FRAME Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a border or structure, but here the puzzle is using it as a verb meaning to put into words.
3 EFFECTS Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of results or consequences, but here the puzzle is using it as a term shortened to letters.
4 CUTIE Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of an attractive person, but here the puzzle is using it as a term shortened to letters.

NYT Connections answers for August 8, 2026

All four groups revealed, easiest first. Each card holds the theme, the four words, and why the group works.

Y QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENT · Yellow · easiest
  • HOT DOG
  • HURRAH
  • WHOOPEE
  • YAHOO

HOT DOG, HURRAH, WHOOPEE and YAHOO are all old-fashioned ways to show excitement. HOT DOG stands out because it is also a food and a show-off.

G CONVEY · Green · easy
  • COUCH
  • EXPRESS
  • FRAME
  • PHRASE

COUCH, EXPRESS, FRAME and PHRASE all mean to convey or put into words. FRAME is the one that most people miss at first since it usually means a border.

B WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONES · Blue · medium
  • CUTIE
  • EASY
  • EFFECTS
  • I OWE YOU

CUTIE, EASY, EFFECTS and I OWE YOU are words whose common abbreviations sound like letter names. EFFECTS is the sneakiest because FX is how special effects are often written.

P SAFETY ___ · Purple · hardest
  • BELT
  • GOGGLES
  • PIN
  • RAZOR

BELT, GOGGLES, PIN and RAZOR all form common safety compounds. GOGGLES is the most straightforward while the others can trick you into thinking of different uses.

Try another puzzle

Two more NazoKai hints, ready when you are.

Wordle

Today's hint ladder & answer

Open

Spelling Bee

Answers, pangram & word list

Open